Freerando Trip in Tarentaise

Right up until the last minute, we didn't know where we'd be hitting the slopes this year.

For our annual trip with Gilles and the gang, we’d been thinking of heading over to Gressoney, at the foot of Monte Rosa. But the conditions there are way too dry—so we’re scrapping that idea.

I really like this way of planning a trip: keeping a few ideas in mind and deciding at the last minute. It requires flexibility from everyone, and it adds a little spice to the logistics, but it keeps you from getting fixated on a destination when there’s no snow and ending up scraping the ice.

The situation doesn’t seem particularly exceptional anywhere, but the Tarentaise region does have two major advantages: the snow—though admittedly not very fresh—is definitely there, and a friend of Gilles’ is letting us stay at his fully equipped chalet in Aime for the week… You can’t turn that down!

The forecast of sunshine even has us hoping for some great runs on slushy snow—unfortunately, a increasingly common occurrence in “Janvril.” And here’s a significant advantage of the situation: the snowpack is rock-solid!!

I don't have much time for a detailed account this time, but in short: six wonderful days exploring Sainte-Foy-en-Tarentaise, La Plagne, Les Arcs, and Valmorel, depending on the conditions and how I felt each day.

Freerando has once again proven its full potential for taking advantage of the ski lifts before heading out of the resorts to seek out long, wild descents!